Wrench.



L. SMITH.

WRENCH.

(Application filed mm. 8, 1900.1

No. 655,026. Patented July 3|, I900.

(No Model.)

wn QQQQQ Q0 7 mmm,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOWELL SMITH, OF WHEELER, MICHIGAN.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters iPatent No. 655,026, dated July 31, 1900.

Application filed March 3 1900. Serial N0: 7,183. (No model) To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOWELL SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in thetownship of Wheeler, Gratiot county, and State of Michigan,(whose post-oflice address is Breckenridge, Michigan) have invented an Improvement in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches, and has for one object to provide a wrench having a movable jaw with means for quickly and easily holding the movable jaw in the position to which it is adjusted and enable a very exact adjustment to be had.

A further objectis to construct a wrench having a freely-sliding jaw, with means for positively holding the jaw in its adjusted position without the employment of ratchet or engaging teeth which necessitate the movement of the jaw in adjusting it at least'the distance of one tooth, and consequently prevent a nice or exact adjustment, and which teeth also present parts easily broken or marred. V

A further object is to provide a device having a stationary member and freely-sliding member thereon with novel and particularlyeftective wedge-locking means for said freelysliding member.

A further object is to so construct and arrange the parts that the locking device can be readily operated by the thumb or finger of the hand holding the wrench.

A further object is to so construct and arrange the parts that the displacement of the wedge device is impossible.

A further object is to construct a simple, strong, and eifective wrench which can be produced at a minimum cost.

With such and other objects in view the invention is embodied in the parts, arrangement, and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a practical embodiment of my invention, but desire it understood that I do not limit the invention in its useful applications to the construction there shown for the purpose of an understanding of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective wrench having at one end a stationary jaw B and at the other end ahandle of suitable form, (indicated at C,) which is shown as being sleeved on a part of the shank A and retained in place. by suitable means, suchas a nut c, engaging a threaded portion of the shank.

D indicates a movable member which in this instance is shown to be the movable jaw of the wrench. The movable jaw has an angular hole (1 extending therethrough, through which passes the shank A, which is also angular, and on which the jaw D is freely slidable between the handle C and stationary jaw. The hole at is of greater width than the diameter of the shank A to enable the insertion therein of the locking means hereinafter described, and a wall 01' of the hole d is inclined, as shown.

The locking means for holding the movable member in adjusted positions on the stationary member comprises a strip extending from the stationaryjaw B to the handle 0 through the hole at and preferably on the rear side of the shank, which strip has an inclined portion e, diverging from the jaw end of the shank toward the handle, and an inbent portion e at the handle end. The ends of the strip E are held in sockets F and F, respectively, in the stationary jaw and handle 0, thus permitting the strip to move laterally toward and from the shank, but preventing endwise movement thereof. Located between the strip E and shank A is a wedge device Gr, having a relatively-long straight side engaging the shank A and a relatively-long inclined side contacting with the flat inner side of the strip E and having also a head or operating portion H, provided with a hole 71, through which the strip E passes, the latter serving as a retaining means for the wedge. The end of the head H is milled or roughened to enable a better hold when movingthe wedge. This arrangement of the strip E and wedge G, in

Ice

a members, provides a holding or lockin g means usually heretofore found'neces'sary." 1 It is believed that the use of thewrenchrwill v .Iclaim as new, and desire-t0 secure by Letters Patent, is: f a I and having an operatinghead projecting bes yond the strip substantially in a plane passstrip, substantially as described.

a stationary jaw, a strip having an inclined a portion, a movable jaw having a holethrough l 3o 7 a able jaw, the finger or thumb is placed on the.

- r a "toward the handle, which movement releases 7 the jaw D. When-the jaw has been set as deconjunction with the-stationary and movable;

whichiwill hold'm'uch more perfectly than when the wedge alone is employed andgenables me to dispense with the engaging teeth bereadilyunderstood; To adjust the movmilled head of the wedge and the latter moved sired, the wedge is shoved homeinto the hole d in thejaw D between the strip E and the shankA. v I Having thus described myinvention, what 1. In a wrench, the combinationof a shank and a stationary jaw, of a movable jaw slidably mounted on said shank, a strip, a'ndfa wedge devicebetween' said strip and shank ing longitudinally through said shank and 2. 'In a wrench, the combination of a shank,

which said strip and shank pass, and. a wedge between said shank and strip and having an operating-head provided with ahole through 3; Thecombinationwithga stationarymemher, of a movable member slidable on the stationary member, a strip, and a wedge between said stationary member and strip and-having irelativelydong faces lying flat against said stationary member and oneface' of the strip and having an operating portion projecting beyond the opposite face of the strip, sub; stantially as described.

ft. Ina wrench, thecombination ofa shank,

"a 'stationary'jaw thereon, a handle thereon, a

stripheld'by' said jaw and handle from endwise movement andpermitted to move later al1y,a movable jaw-having a holethrough which said shank and strip'pass,and a wedge between saidshank and strip and having an- 5o operatingehead provided witha holethrough which said strip passes, substantially as described. I I The combination ofa stationary member, a movable member slidable on the stationary member, a strip secured at each end on said stationary member, and a wedge between said strip and stationary member and having an operating portion, substantiallyas described.

LOWELL SMITH.

Witnesses:

FRANCES V. BOYLE, O. F; PIKE. 

